Graceful Fall Algorithm

Researchers at Georgia Tech have identified a way to teach robots how to fall with grace and without serious injury. In the video, the top robot uses a novel algorithm to minimize impact when the robot falls. The algorithm is not used for the robot on the bottom of the screen.

The work is important as costly robots become more common in manufacturing. The skill becomes especially important, too, as robots are sought for healthcare or domestic tasks – working near the elderly, injured, children or pets.